Berkeley Conversations - COVID-19: Economic Impact, Human Solutions

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis threatening to become an economic catastrophe that affects tens of millions of Americans. Is the $2 trillion aid package recently passed by Congress and signed by the president enough to keep the economy from freefall? What more is needed?

A panel of UC Berkeley’s leading economists and public policy experts will discuss the economic consequences of sheltering-in-place, evaluate the Congressional response and discuss strategies that could help to stabilize the economy, safeguard jobs and protect society’s most vulnerable people.

The discussion is part of a new live, online video series, Berkeley Conversations: COVID-19, featuring Berkeley scholars from a range of disciplines.

This event is sponsored by the Goldman School of Public Policy and UC Berkeley’s Opportunity Lab.
Donate to support students and UC Berkeley’s COVID-19 testing and research.

Moderator:
Dan Mogulof, Assistant vice chancellor for executive communications

[ernestmac]

Because Europe and many other countries like Canada took action early on, While America, Brazil, and India have failed to take appropriate action; thus we not only have more cases, the economic impact will be greater in, America, India, and Brazil. The guy who asked if America can afford the situation, we can't afford not to address the situation. If he wanted the guest to.spell.oit how America can afford this, that is what he should have asked.

[ernestmac]

What we need is far more testing as, America can't properly tackle this situation without knowing the full scale of the dalema before us.

[ernestmac]

Yes, we need to close the loop holes big business is exploiting.

[ernestmac]

By not providing all Americans a Basic Livable income during this crisis; people will risk their health and that of their families by being pressured to work, and to send their kids to schools before they should. People think the situation is bad now, just wait until.flu season further overloads the medical system. The government should also introduce universal healthcare, so folks woun't feel pressured to go to work with symptoms, or avoid seeking medical care due to the cost.

[marignani]

Great stuff.
There is also probably going to be an impact on the supply chain models. At very least, companies will diversify the list of suppliers based on their location. I would expect to see factories partly reopening in rich countries.

I really hope that the recovery will look like WW2's.
The premises are there:
- governments and public opinions still remember the lesson from the great recession of 2008, so the most understand that there is no alternative to stimulate packages and it is not time for worrying about government debts (which is to be done in favourable moments)
- Lockdowns are pushing everybody to go digital and, like the great wars introduced new industries, I hope and believe that we will see the same with the digital economy.

I don't know much about the US health system and in countries comparison don't make much sense, but I will say that it seems a compromise from an open free market and a socialized system and it ain't working in any of the two ways.

[AshLoRo]

The Chinese should be forced to repay.

[channelchannel]

While i love our alma mater, it seems like this whole panel has pretty much no political viewpoint diversity - mostly leftist professors who say borrow borrow borrow and spend spend spend... you need people with diverse views to have useful solutions and strategies, not an echo chamber.. also would be great to have someone with more practical experience from the industry.. a bit underwhelming Berkeley - you guys need to make objectivity and truth and knowledge a higher priority than being on one political side..

[lookingglassstudios]

From a homeless perspective where are all the bathrooms??? why won't the u.c. open some showers to the down and out??? why does the entire city close all of the bathrooms everywhere in town and the porto potties are all locked up forcing people on the street to shit on the street? why is it that in an emergency both the down town police dept. and the university p.d. both say no you can't use our restroom but we can't tell you shit on the street what's the alternative???? don't i along with the other members of community have a right to not live like an animal??? Should the New Bumper sticker say Care about your community or get infected like the rest??? Some of us live out of our vehicles all gyms are closed where can people peacefully take a shower??? is the only option in town during a pandemic Willard pool????